Sled brake



Sept. 23, 1924. 1,509,761

X. LEGAULT SLED BRAKE Filed April 19. 1924 Inventor yzzz'vzj rie az/ZfAttorney Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES XAVIER LEGAULT, OF DE LESSEPS, QUEBEC, CANADIL SLED BRAKE.

Application filed April 19, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, XAVIER LneAULT, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at De Lesseps, Province of Quebec, Canada, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sled Brakes; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention pertains to a novel braking device designed foruse in connection with sleds adapted to carry a heavy load.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthis character which comes automatically into operation as the sledaccelerates in speed in descending an incline. The braking deviceconsists of a pair of links having a slot and pin connection with therunners, there being a brake member also carried by the links and havingdirect connection to the draft tongue. As the rumiers tend to advancetowards the tongue in the descent of a hill, the links are moveddownwardly, and the brake carried thereby is driven into the road by theweight of the sled and its load.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a guiding deviceadapted to come into operation on inclines not sufliciently steep torequire a brake. This device consists of guide members carried by thelinks which are brought into engagement with the road in the same manneras the brake. Should the incline become steepor or the speed of therunners increase, the guides are driven into the road and finally thebrake engages the latter to arrest the movement of the vehicle.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following description and in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the device;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the position of the device indescending an incline;

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the position of the device whilebeing backed;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form; and,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of said modification in descending anincline.

Reference will now be had to these views ployed to designatecorresponding Serial No. ?,738.

by means of like characters which are emparts throughout.

The numeral 1 indicates the spaced runners of the sled, each havingmounted thereon a knee 2. A. bench 3 is laid across the knees, and a roda extends rearwardly from the bench. To this rod may be attached a pairof rear runners or any other desired de vice according to the use to bemade or the sled, in any manner well known in the art.

Through the forward ends of the runners is passed a rod 5 surrounded bya spacer 6. Links 7 are carried at the outer ends of the rod, each linkhaving a slot 8 receiving the end on which it is mounted. The ends ofthe rod are provided with heads 9 disposed exteriorly of the links toprevent the latter from becoming detached.

Through the forward ends of the links is passed another rod 10, and thisalso is surrounded by a spacer 11. Secured to the roller is a web 12from which extends a tongue 13 for draft purposes. Along the length ofthe roller 11 is secured a metallic scraper 14 as shown in Figures 1, 2and lVhen the device is being drawn over a level surface as shown inFigure l, the links are disposed substantially horizontal, the scraper14 being elevated from the surface. lVhen the device is descending asteep iii-- cline as shown in Figure 3, the runners l tend to advancetowards the tongue 13 since the latter is held back by the draftanimals. Consequently the links 7 are turned on the rod 10 as a pivot,whereupon the rod 5 engages the lower ends of the slots 8. The tendencyof the runners to continue moving downwardly causes a downward pressureon the links, and the scraper 14 is thus brought into engagement withthe surface. In this manner the downward movement of the head is checkedand the latter is thus braked.

When the sled is backed, the links 7 turn on the ends of the rod 10 aspivots, and the roller 11 is displaced rearwardly of the roller 6 asshown in Figure 4;. If the sled is to be backed for a considerabledistance, the roller 11 may be locked in this position by means of alink 15 attached thereto and adapted for connection to the bench 3.

In Figures 5 and 6 is shown a modification adapted for use on an inclinenot sutliciently steep to require braking. The links carry guides 16 attheir forward and lower ends. As the device descends an incline as shownin Figure 6, the rod 5 moves to the forward ends of the link slots asdescribed in connection with Figure 3. The guides 16 are thus driveninto the snow and prevent the sled from slipping to the sides of theroad. Should the incline become steeper or the runners 1 increase inspeed, the links Will be still further depressed until the brake 14:engages the surface as already described in connection with Figure 3.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that various alterations in thedetails of construction may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a pair ofsled runners, a pair of links having sliding engagement therewith, and abraking device carried by said links.

2. In combination with a pair of runners,

a pair of slotted links slidably connected thereto, and a bra-kingdevice carried by said links.

3. In combination with a pair of runners, a pair of slotted linksslidably connected thereto, a rod passed through said links, a spacersurrouiuling said rod, a braking device attached to said spacer, and atongue extending from said spacer.

4%. In combination with a pair of sled run- 11ers, a braking devicecomprising a pair of links having sliding engagement with the runners, abraking device carried by said link and guides formed on said links andcitric from said braking device.

In combination with a pair of runners, a pair of slotted links slidablyconnected thereto, a rod passed through said links, a spacer surrmmdingsaid rod. a braking device attached to said spacer, a tongue extendingflOlll said spacer, and guides formed on said links and oll'sct fromsaid braking device.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

XAVIER LEGAULT.

